A recreational soccer league serving the youth of Southwest Michigan.

Spring Soccer 2023!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday, and I hope you are ready for some soccer fun! I know I’m ready for some Spring Soccer! 

There are a few announcements to make as we prepare for the season:

1: Spring Registration- Spring Soccer is open to Birth Years 2008-2020. You can Register HERE

2: Uniforms- For those of you that have the Navy/White Jerseys we will be using those again this Season. You will be getting a Discount for using the same Jersey. For those of you new to the league please select your child’s Jersey Size so I can get new ones ordered. If you played in the Fall and Need a New Jersey Please Select a size and don’t apply the discount.

3: Picture Day– We will be doing Picture Day a bit different this season so be on the lookout for the new news.

4: Coaches– If you would like to coach this season, please register Here.

5: Board Openings- Please send me an email if you are interested in taking on a role with the Board.  

6: Volunteer options- Volunteering is crucial to our program. 2 Hours of time is needed per Child Registered. This program really does not exist without everyone’s hard work!  If you are unable to donate your time you will be given the opportunity at the end of this program to pay a $50 opt out fee for First Child and $15 for every Child after that. Volunteer Email will Send within 1 week of the close of Registration. Please make sure your email address is correct, sign-up opportunities will be First come First Served. 

A few side notes: 

Parking- Please leave a gap open in the Cleveland Ave Parking Area so the cars parked in front can still get in and out. Please do not park on the grass. I suggest that all U3/U4 & U9/U10 Parents Park at the Rocky Weed Parking lot. Watch your Childs Schedule to Determine where to park.

Concession Stand- The Concession Stand will be open this season and accept cash or credit payments.

We can use your help! I have had a few parents, coaches, and friends contact me and ask me what I need help with, and I have gladly given most of it to them. It takes a village! Once again, please contact me if you’re interested!

Please remain patient. Lastly, please remember I am one person. I am trying my best to make this a great Season. Soccer isn’t my full-time job. On top of taking on league duties and coaching a team, I am also a mom to 5 and work a full-time job. I will make mistakes. Please bear with me.

Thank you all for trusting me to lead your kiddos this spring soccer season! I genuinely appreciate all your patience. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email, text, or phone. Keep in mind that I may not right away, but I will get back to you! 

~Brittany 

Welcome to the 2022 Fall Season!

Welcome!

Hello Soccer Families, 

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer break. Fall Soccer is right around the corner. We’d like to welcome those new to SWM Rec and say “welcome back” to those who’ve participated with our league before. We are excited to have you!

What’s new this season?

  • We have added new fields for our U6/U8 Division, located near the Rockey Weed side of the complex. These new fields will not only help with parking; they’ll allow additional flexibility with practice and game schedules.
  • We will be adding new food options to the concession stands. Each player will receive “Concession Stand Bucks” that they can use during the Fall season. 
  • We will be opening a spirit wear store! Be on the lookout to order merchandise to support your soccer player.

Coach and volunteer reminders.

  • For those who didn’t pay the opt-out fee for volunteering, be on the lookout for an e-mail sign-up for the volunteer slot of your choice.
  • You must register as a coach if you opted in for coaching and received a credit. Returning coaches need to register, too! Coach registration can be done at this link: Coach Registration for Fall 2022.
    • Coaches must complete all the required training and background checks. 
    • Coaches will also be required to attend a Coach meeting from 6 – 7:30 PM on either Tuesday, August 23rd, or Thursday, August 25th. Please meet us at the concession stands.
    • We’ve created a Coach’s Guide to assist our new coaches. You can download the Coach’s Guide on our Coach Resources and Training page.

Mark your calendars.

  • We have ordered new uniforms, and your child will get a new jersey this season. We can’t wait for you to see them!  Uniform Pick-up / Meet Your Coach Day is scheduled for August 27th. Parents: please arrive right at your scheduled time and send your player(s) to the fields!
    • U3/U4 – 9 AM 
    • U5/U6 – 10 AM 
    • U7/U8 – 11 AM 
    • U9/U10 – 12 PM
    • U11/U12/U13/U14/U15 – 1 PM  
  • We aim to have all schedules done by Uniform Pick-up / Meet Your Coach Day.
    • All U3/U4 division games will be on Saturday mornings from 9:30 – 10:30 AM.
    • Older divisions (U10 and up) will play other local teams this season. Please note your game’s location when you receive your schedule.
  • The first set of games will be Tuesday, September 6th! 

Welcome to the 2022 Fall Season!

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Spring 2022 Mid-Season Update

Hello Soccer Families, 

I hope that the season is going well so far! I know that the past few days the weather has not been in our favor, but it looks like all that is about to change for the better!

Here are a few mid-season updates:

Pictures

The soccer photos are ready for you to order. The link to see and order is: https://galleries.photoday.io/gallery/lakeshore-youth-soc

If you have any questions or issues, please e-mail bill@tuckpixs.com.  

IMPORTANT: You must contact the vendor directly with any questions. Coaches and League Leadership cannot assist with questions about your children’s pictures.

Parking

Due to the rain last week, the first row of parking in the Cleveland Avenue lot is a swamp. Please try not to park in the front row of that lot until it’s dried out.

I also ask that you do not park in the grass area, as it is getting torn up. If there are no parking spots on the gravel portion of the parking lot off Cleveland Avenue, we must request that you use the parking lot off of Rockey Weed Avenue.

Other updates

Please keep an eye on your inboxes next week! I will be sending out information on: a SWMREC Fundraiser, as well as Summer camp possibilities.   I will also be sending out information about a Zoom meeting to discuss more on the “board” help that is needed, also be on the lookout for information for Next season. 

  • A fundraiser opportunity for SWM Rec,
  • Summer camp possibilities,
  • A Zoom meeting invite to discuss open positions on our league’s Board, and
  • Information for our Fall 2022 season

As always please contact us if you have any questions or concerns!

Updated Field Map

Hi everyone,

We hope you and your kiddos have had a fantastic start to the spring season!

We’ve laid out the soccer fields a bit differently than last year. To minimize confusion, please take a moment to review the most recent Field Map.

> 2022 Rockey Weed Field Map

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions! 

Let the Games Begin!

Hey all, 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break, and I hope you are ready for some soccer fun! I know I’m ready for the season to begin! 

There are a few announcements to make as we prepare for the season:

1: Uniforms. For those of you that didn’t get your uniforms, I have them, and they will be available for pickup starting Monday at the Concession Stands. I will be there Monday from 6-7:30 PM, Tuesday from 5:30 – 7:30 PM, and Thursday from 5:30 – 7:30 PM. If these times do not work for you for some reason, please let me know. All remaining uniforms will be given to the coaches after Thursday. 

2: Picture Day Make-up. – If you didn’t make it to Picture Day, you will be getting an email from me next week with a few times and days to go to the studio for retakes. Please let me know if you do not get an email and didn’t make it to Picture Day. 

3: Schedules. – Schedules are done! Here is the link for schedules. Please let me know if you have any questions. 

4: Coaches and Teams. – If you have not heard from your coach, please reach out to me so I can figure out what’s going on. 

5: Board Openings. Click here to view a PDF of the current openings with our league’s Board. I’ve highlighted the open positions in yellow. Please send me an email if you are interested in taking on a role with the Board.  

6: Volunteer options. There are a few openings for Field Lining and Concession stands. Please click on the respective link to sign up for one of the open times. 

A few side notes: 

  • Parking. Please leave a gap open in the Cleveland Ave Parking Area so the cars parked in front can still get in and out. Please do not park on the grass. I suggest that all U3/U4 & U9/U10 Parents park at the Rocky Weed Parking lot.
  • Concession Stand. The Concession Stand will be open this season and accept cash or credit payments. The water is finally on at the fields, so the bathrooms are available. 
  • We can use your help! I have had a few parents, coaches, and friends contact me and ask me what I need help with, and I have gladly given most of it to them. It takes a village! Once again, click here to view a list of current openings on our league’s Board. Please contact me if you’re interested!
  • Please remain patient. Lastly, please remember I am one person. I am trying my best to make this a great Season. Soccer isn’t my full-time job. On top of taking on league duties and coaching a team, I am also a mom to 5 and work a full-time job. I will make mistakes. Please bear with me.

Thank you all for trusting me to lead your kiddos this spring soccer season! I genuinely appreciate all your patience. Please don’t hesitate to contact me via email, text, or phone. Keep in mind that I may not right away, but I will get back to you! 

Spring Registration is Now Open!

I hope everyone is Staying healthy, warm, and looking forward to Spring Soccer! Spring Registration is Now OPEN and you can Register Here. If you are planning on Coaching Soccer this season you can Register Here. Please note that if you do plan on Coaching, we will need you to complete your Risk Management as well as get your Safe Sport Certification. Completing your Risk Management is a big one without this you will NOT be able to coach, see your team, or games. 

Also, with Covid-19 still in the front of our minds, we do follow the safety precautions that are outlined by the Berrien County Health Department, Michigan State Youth Soccer Association, CDC, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Service, 

As the Season Starts to begin, I am Looking for a few people who would like to join me in making SWMREC Soccer great. If you would like to have a bigger voice During Soccer Season Please email me at VP@swmrec.comI’d love to have you join my Team.

As Always if you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to contact me. Moving Forward from here on out I will be your Primary contact for SWMREC.  —
Thank you,

Brittany Dunham | Vice PresidentSWM Rec (Formerly Lakeshore Youth Soccer League)
e: vp@swmrec.com
w: www.swmrec.comLike SWM Rec on Facebook!

SWM Rec is a part of Southwest Michigan Soccer Club, Inc.

Coming to a Close

Good Morning, everyone first and foremost I want to say thank you for a great fall season. During these unpredictable times, I hope that everyone was able to enjoy this season. I would like to thank all the volunteers that stepped up and helped this season. It really helped us out. As the season comes to a close, I have a few reminders. Please don’t forget about our fundraiser that we are currently doing here is the link to place your order.

Also, if you could please take this quick survey about UNIFORMS by clicking this link that would be greatly appreciated.

For those of you that ordered pictures we will have a picture pick up day this Thursday October 28th from 6 to 730 at the concession stands.

Spring registration is right around the corner for those of you that are coaching this season and interested in coaching in the spring. Please follow this link to go ahead and get signed up as coach registration for coaches and referees is currently open Early registration for your children will open on January 15. And things for the spring season will get started the first week of April.

Coach Highlight:

This week’s coach highlight is Head Coach Cody Korfmacher, Coach Cody has been a coach for our league for 5 years! Thank you for your dedication Cody! So far This season Cody’s U8 Girls team has gone undefeated with 8 wins and 2 ties! Way to go Tigers!

As always if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Also I was having some system issues so I hope you only get this email once. 

Thank you,

Brittany Dunham | Vice PresidentSWM Rec (Formerly Lakeshore Youth Soccer League)
e: vp@swmrec.com
w: www.swmrec.comLike SWM Rec on Facebook!

SWM Rec is a part of Southwest Michigan Soccer Club, Inc.

We Gotta Keep our Composure!

Anyone seen our new jerseys, I’ve heard they’re pretty cool? If you had, let me know what they look like because WE STILL are waiting on United Sports to deliver them. With that being said, we’ve been given another date for delivery, October 21st, and we know what happened with the last one … so I’m doing my best to keep my composure here … All items were ordered on time and in line with the past seasons, however, this amazing backlog has us where we are at.

Now, we contemplated a few options here: one, reschedule pictures, yet again, in light of our uniform quandary, or two move forward with pictures for October 9th. Given what a reschedule would entail, and the availability of our photographer, we have decided to move forward with pictures with or WITHOUT new uni’s. Please click HERE for the schedule and HERE for the photo volunteer schedule.

Please beg, borrow, and you know … A jersey from someone in the spring for pictures if you’d like to ensure you have one for pictures. Last spring’s jerseys are identical to the fall. In the case of not knowing or having someone to borrow from, please improvise as best you can.

In light of the delay (and keeping our composure), I am expecting a sizable discount on the uni’s we’ve ordered. This discount, and or refund, would trickle to you as well. When we know what that will be, we will let you know. But better believe recompense will be made. Your patience and understanding have been very appreciative by us, sincerely. We are not the only league dealing with this same issue, so we are not alone.

In a much brighter set of news, we are the recipient of our second financial contribution made by SWM Rec’s own Brittany Dunham. Not only does she provide her time and effort free of charge in her service to the league, she is also donating any and all income received through this fund raiser offered through Pink Zebra. Please buy as much product as you can by clicking HERE. Products offered through this most kind gesture can be found HERE.

Finally, we are approaching the runway of our final destination of October 30th. We will have a Coaches Appreciation event for all of those who registered to Coach, an end of season volunteer event, that will help those whom have not had a chance to volunteer and would like to, that will go to tidying up the field in preparation for winter. More details on these to come.

As always, I love you and very much appreciate you being with us this season.

Jefferson

Fall Season Highlight: To all of those volunteers that have showed out, willing to serve, our season is not possible without you. Special thanks to John Papanek for lining the fields this week. Way to step up and deliver!

Our area has recently gotten some national recognition, by way of ESPN and WMYSA (which we are associated with). A contact of ours, Chris Keenan, has the privilege of doing the color commentary for NCAA College soccer games on ESPN3 and ESPNU.

In the ESPN zoom strategy sessions this past week, with the play by play and producers, he was asked about how this area seems unusually good at soccer.

Not only did our area have the 2021 U18 USYSA National Championship but also in the next two ESPN games they broadcast will feature 10 local players, which is unusual.  8 WMU players plus Mikey Ketteman Oakland U (Portage Central) and Luke Morrell MSU (Plainwell). 

After Chris Keenan explained our regional soccer structure, they agreed that one topic of discussion is an explanation of how Southwest Michigan is a soccer area and how AYSO, WMYSA league and Clubs have played a big role in the promotion and execution of the sport and how this ultimately built the foundation and structure for kids to learn, grow, build confidence and ultimately have success. 

Some of these kids are finding success on the pitch at a higher level …. but the point must be made that the child’s success maybe away from the pitch, but it was the confidence they gained from playing on a team with their friends!  Very proud to be a part of our soccer community and thank you to the WMYSA Board and all the Volunteers who make this possible for the kids in our community.

If interested the TV icon next to the games will lead you to the broadcast.
https://wmubroncos.com/sports/mens-soccer/schedule/2021

October 6 at 5pm Oakland @ WMU
October 13 at 4pm vs Michigan State University @ WMU

If interested in attending WMU Soccer Complex 4502 Campus Dr Kalamazoo MI 49008
WMU Local players:

#3 Brennan Creek                        Hackett
#5 Jaylen Shannon                      St Joseph
#6 Dylan Sing                               Lakeshore
#7 Max Keenan                            Hackett
#12 Eron “Roni” Sylejmani        Gull Lake
#13 Connor Burkett                     Mattawan
#20 Levi Crooks                           Portage Northern
#26 Landon Fischer                     Concord (IN)

Yep, we’re great at soccer, now if that only pertained to uniform delivery ..

Runners Ahead

Good, beautiful Tuesday afternoon to you all (wanted to avoid Monday). Hope all of you are doing well. The Lakeshore Varsity Cross Country team had reached out to me earlier this season to see if we would be so kind as to share our fields with them and so I obliged.

Without it, our local team would not have had a home course and so we were happy to share. With that, they are scheduled to be at the fields today from 3:15PM to 5:30PM. We advised them to use the parking lot off of Rockey Weed. Whether or not that happens will be seen, but I’ll be honest this is an area we (SWM Rec) are working on at getting better at (promise).

Games and practices should go on as scheduled, but I wanted to give you a heads up that there might be more people and traffic at the fields than ordinarily is the case. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Also, remember to complete your volunteer task if you did not opt-out in your registration. If we do not have record of you fulfilling this task, we will apply the opt-out fee to your account at the conclusion of the season. Anyway, enjoy this diamond of a day today, as we all know just how dreary Michigan weather can become later in the fall.

Jefferson

Fall Season Highlight: Three shoutouts today, one for SWM SC President Gil ‘The Godfather of SW Michigan Youth Soccer’. He turned 70 this month and we are all appreciative of his service and dedication to the game. Happy Birthday Gilly! #Total

Second, wanted to point out one of two Coaches for the extraordinary season’s they are having. Coach Pschigoda and his U14 team have jumped out to an undefeated season (4 – 0). For this age group, they travel locally and play other local teams which include Bridgeman, Berrien Springs, Dowagiac, and Coloma. Many of the players on his team have come up through the years in our league and are demonstrating just how dominant we can be. #Dominance

Third, and certainly not the least, Rookie Head Coach Traci Kachorek and her band of renegade players have awoken to become soccer lady giants on the field. She dropped the first game of the season but has seen an offensive tidal wave that has included double digits scoring output from her lady soccer players. She observed her team’s performance, made some very strategic and savvy adjustments, and her team is now playing an outstanding level of soccer. I now refer to her as Head Coach Traci ‘The Belichick of Soccer’ Kachorek. Once a spectator now a dominant force on the field. #Power